Brown deserved to return for his seventh year. He did a good job in the playoffs, making some quality adjustments and proving to be at least the equal of Eastern Conference finalist Nick Nurse and the Raptors.

Brown would love to get another crack at the postseason with the same core group that finished this season, which would mean re-signing impending free agents Jimmy Butler and Tobias Harris to maximum or near-max contracts, along with perhaps veteran shooter JJ Redick.

If that trio returns, Brown would get his first training camp and preseason with one of the NBA's top starting fives, since Butler arrived in November and Harris in February. The starting five only had 21 games together, 11 of which came in the playoffs.

Should the Sixers get the band back together, Brown's probably going to have to do more than lose in the conference semifinals for a third year in a row to keep his job. The stakes would be raised — as they should be — and a trip to the Finals wouldn't appear far-fetched.

"Coaching doesn't happen for always," said the 58-year-old Brown, noting he's the fifth-longest tenured coach in the league and the son of a coach. "Coaching doesn't happen forever."

Still, the core group would give Brown and the Sixers "everything we need to move this program forward" an impassioned Brown claimed during Tuesday's end-of-season news conference at the team's training facility.

Brown appreciated the words of support from his players Monday during breakup day, when his status seemed unclear. The mercurial but fearless Butler spoke of their evolving relationship, admitting he can be difficult at times.

"He has huge heart and is a great, great dude," Butler said. "He works incredibly hard, so you've got to respect that about him. He's always working to make every player great, which is hard to do when you have a roster like we have/had. I think he's going to be here for a long time."

Brown went to dinner with Harris and general manager Elton Brand in Manhattan on Monday night, where he formally learned he'd remain as the coach. He's under contract through 2021-22, thanks to a three-year extension from 12 months ago.

The story broke later that evening — one day after the Sixers' heartbreaking Game 7 loss in Toronto — when Harris confirmed to ESPN's Adrian Wojnarowski that Brown would be on the bench in Philadelphia again next season.

Though Harris said Tuesday "Brett's job was never in jeopardy," he declined to give Brown a vote of confidence on a number of occasions, including prior to Game 1 of the first-round playoff victory over the Nets, by not committing to Brown beyond the current season in response to a direct question. In March, Harris also said not surpassing the conference semifinals would be "problematic."

Harris and Brown agreed Brown knew during the Raptors series that he'd be back. Asked if he wished the organization would have made those comments public during the conference semifinals to quell speculation on the subject, Brown replied, "This is my sixth year in Philadelphia. I have been fired [according to reports] every one of those years. It's true. And it'll happen again next year, early."

To minimize the chances of that happening, Brand can help Brown by adding a quality backup center, the lack of which proved to be a huge issue against the Raptors. The Sixers would also benefit from a reserve guard who can score.

It's imperative that the Sixers figure out a way for Embiid to finally be healthy in the playoffs. He was bothered by knee tendinitis heading into the postseason, which could've been the result of playing all but four of the first 68 regular-season games. Expect Embiid to sit more during the season, with not playing both games of a back-to-back set similar to what Kawhi Leonard does a real possibility.

Improving his conditioning and diet could also contribute to Embiid reaching a career-best fitness level Brown continues to seek for his franchise center.

As for Simmons, perhaps a summer of shooting jumpers would give him the confidence necessary for him to attempt something more than a layup in next year's playoffs. Thirty-five of his 46 shots in the last five games vs. Toronto were at the rim, and just one (a 13-footer) beyond 10 feet.

"I wished he would (take more jumpers)," Brown said.

It's possible Brown's future could depend on the willingness of Embiid and Simmons to make these changes. If that's the case, he likes the chances.

Tom Moore: tmoore@couriertimes.com; @TomMoorePhilly

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